#DYK? Natural gas is odorless, colorless and flammable. A product called Mercaptan, which smells like rotten eggs, is added to make leaks easier to detect. If you smell natural gas, contact UGI immediately at 800-276-2722. For more #natgas safety, visit: ow.ly/CPpm30hcwOO

UGI employees gave back last Friday during @WGAL's 23rd annual Coats for Kids Telethon. Employees from several UGI offices joined volunteers to help raise money for Salvation Army services to help families in need.

#SafetyTip Decorating for the holidays this weekend? If you're decorating a tree, be sure to place it on a stable platform. Never use lighted candles near trees or boughs and always use a step ladder to place decorations in high places.

“This scholarship will ensure that Rick's memory lives on by helping students receive a quality education through Thaddeus Stevens year after year.” -Keith Dorman, UGI vice president of communications and community relations
twitter.com/thaddeussteven…

Toys for Tots recently received a treasure trove of new toys for their annual toy drive thanks to efforts from UGI's Williamsport office. Led by the C&M department, the office collected more than $600 in donations to buy new toys for the Lycoming County Toys for Tots program.

UGI is pleased to support and partner with the @CPYBallet in its mission to educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of young people throughout the Central PA area. Read more about our December Featured Community Organization: ow.ly/wPjW30h4Oxb

UGI Encourages Homeowners and Contractors to Work Safely on National 811 Day

Reading, PA – As part of National 811 Day – commemorated on August 11 — UGI urges homeowners and professional contractors to “know what’s below” and to “look up and live” when taking on home improvement projects and new construction. These simple practices will help keep individuals safe and prevent damage to both underground facilities as well as overhead electric wires and other equipment.

National 811 Day is conducted each year on August 11 to build homeowner and contractor awareness of safe digging practices. UGI reminds all individuals doing excavation work to call to 811 at least three days before starting a digging project to have underground utilities marked.

Pennsylvania law requires a call to your local 811 (One Call) Center when performing excavations using powered equipment for major landscaping and even minor digging projects. There is no charge for 811 to homeowners or excavators to provide utility line location services.

“Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811,” Robert Krieger, UGI Utilities Vice President of Operations, said. “Calling 811 before you dig is the law.”

Any project that includes digging or excavation should be preceded by an 811 call. Installing a mailbox, putting in a fence, building a deck and even small projects like planting trees or shrubs are all examples of digging projects that require a call to 8-1-1 before starting. When making the free call to 811, callers are connected to their local one-call center. The one-call center then notifies the appropriate utility companies of the location of planned excavation. Utility companies then send out professional locators to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or paint.

”Third-party excavation damage is the number one cause of natural gas pipeline damage involving death or serious injury,” Krieger said. “Striking a single utility service line can cause personal injury, property damage and outages that inconvenience communities. In addition, persons responsible for striking utility lines can also face the costs of repairs and fines.”

“National 811 Day provides us with an opportunity each year to remind homeowners and contractors to call 811 before digging to prevent the risk of striking an underground utility line,” Krieger added. “As a utility that provides electric service to customers, we take this opportunity to make customers aware that damage and potential injury can be avoided by being aware of overhead powerlines as well.